...and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.--Ephesians 5:2

I've been doing a lot of thinking the last several days.  During my time of devotion and meditation I keep contemplating the word sacrifice.  When I first heard God calling me into full time ministry, I really didn't know what all it would entail.  I supposed in many ways I still don't.  As I've told people before, one of the most important things I have learned since coming to Asbury has been to trust God and leave things up to him.  Some days that is harder than others, but I seem to be getting better at it.

Anyway, back to sacrifice.  Since moving from my hometown, I have witnessed several ways that people have been sacrificial.  There are several people who I am close to who have had to sacrifice in order for me to try to fulfill the calling placed on my heart.  The first group is my home church.  They have been so generous with their gifts over the last few years.  I will never be able to express my thanks to them for everything they have done and continue to do.  They have faithful given a check every month since we have been in Wilmore.  Various ones from the church have sent cards and letters of encouragement.  We have received gifts in the mail for our girls.  We get emails and Facebook messages from these loving people that fill the gap that a great distance has brought between us.  Many times, before I spend money, I think of the sacrifice that some of these people are making in order to provide for us during this time of school.  Am I spending money on something that someone in my church (it will always be my church) is doing without so that I can sit at the feet of these professors so that I can learn?  That is a question that goes through my mind on a regular basis.

Besides the sacrifice of the people in my home church, my family has also had to sacrifice for this call.  My in-laws and parents have had to sacrifice their grandkids to a long distance relationship that neither one enjoys having, but they do the best they can in the face of the circumstances.  My kids had to leave friends and teachers in school in order to move here and they will have to do the same thing again this summer.  My loving wife gave up a job she enjoyed with good friends so that I could come to seminary and she has not complained one time since we've been here.  She had to give up a house that we bought, worked on, and poured our own sweat into in order to make it a home only to have to sell it so that we could once again live in rent houses.

I think about our dear friends who we love dearly that we used to have Scripture reading and prayer time with.  We forged a relationship that can never be severed and yet they had to let us go so that we could continue along the path that God has set us on.

When I think about all of these things, I see them as bitter-sweet realities.  I wouldn't trade the experiences I've had here in Wilmore for anything.  Myranda and I have met wonderful people and made new friends since we've been here, realizing that once again we will be leaving them behind to follow God's plan.  We have been blessed by two churches who don't know us and yet they love the LORD so much that they have been willing to reach out to us and shower us with the love of the Father.






However, none of this really measures up to the ultimate sacrifice that was given to all people freely.  This past Sunday I was reminded of that sacrifice as we sang one of the great hymns of the Church, "How Great Thou Art."  When we got to verse 4, I could barely whisper the words because I was so overcome with emotion.  Stuart Hines' wrote this, "And when I think that God, his Son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, he bled and died to take away my sin;"  These words ring so true.  They resonate within my heart and I remember how insignificant my "sacrifice" is compared to the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made to leave the heavenly court in order to walk among humanity, to teach us the way of his Father and then to be punished for no reason other than jealousy and hatred from the hearts of the wicked.

I realize that I still have much to learn and to think about in terms of sacrifice and to "live in love, as Christ loved us..."  I pray that God continues to soften our hearts as we learn to live and love as Christ.  +May God continue to bless you and draw you unto him as you walk the path that he has established for you.  Amen.